Northwestern Summer Dinner Theatre to recall music of the past in two shows

Natchitoches Times

May 25, 2012 | 484 views | 0 | 2 | |

Northwestern State University Theatre and Dance will be a bit nostalgic this summer with two shows featuring great music from the past.

The Summer Dinner Theatre will perform 100 Years of Broadway: A Musical Review June 13-16 and 20-23 and The Taffetas: A Musical Journey through the Fabulous Fifties July 25-28 and Aug. 1-4. Performances will be on the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium stage. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. Shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for dinner and the show. Reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, contact Jane Norman at (318) 357-4483 or e-mail normanj@nsula.edu.

100 Years of Broadway: A Musical Review includes music from composers Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hammerstein along with current Broadway favorites by Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Andrew Lewis is director and musical director. Pia Wyatt is choreographer.

“The show will be very fast-paced and will include music from about 50 shows,” said Lewis. “It will be a be a verse or a chorus of 30 seconds to a minute from each song.”

The show will have minimal dialogue, emphasizing great music.

“It’s a good family show with something for everyone,” said Wyatt. “This is an excellent show because it allows you to just sit back and be entertained by music that should be familiar.”

The Taffetas is set in the 1950s. The setting allows the audience to imagine they are watching a television review featuring a group of four girls singing many of their favorite songs. The show will feature songs such as Mr. Sandman and I’m Sorry. The show was conceived by Rick Lewis. Andrew Lewis is director and choreographer. Michael Rorex is musical director.

“It’s kind of a sister show to Forever Plaid, which featured four male singers performing songs from the same era,” said Lewis. “This is an enjoyable show without a lot of dialogue with some nice light-hearted songs from the past.”

Northwestern Theatre and Dance will present a Summer Theatre Camp for children age 8-13 July 25-Aug. 1 from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day. During the camp, participants will audition and rehearse for an original musical The Time Team, which will be performed Aug. 2-4. The cost for the camp is $150, which includes snacks each day. A $25 deposit is required by July 11 with full payment due by the start of the camp.

For more information, call (318) 357-4483 or e-mail normanj@nsula.edu.

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